Have you personally installed screens protectors on iPads? I bought the iLuv mate with 2 sheets enclosed. When I tried to install the first one, following the included instructions, the result was catastrophic. Bubbles, dust, misalignment, you name it. It seems to require fairy hands and a class 1 cleanroom into a vaccum chamber. I'm keeping the second sheet in hope of better directions on how to install this think.

Zagg recommends its liquid spray to install its protectors. What is this, water?

Originally Posted by Escadajr

Have you personally installed screens protectors on iPads? I bought the iLuv mate with 2 sheets enclosed. When I tried to install the first one, following the included instructions, the result was catastrophic. Bubbles, dust, misalignment, you name it. It seems to require fairy hands and a class 1 cleanroom into a vaccum chamber. I'm keeping the second sheet in hope of better directions on how to install this think.

Zagg recommends its liquid spray to install its protectors. What is this, water?

A lot of people mistake it for just water, but it has a little bit of soap in it too, I use a little bit of it to clean the surface before I do the actual application.

As for installing it on a screen, I use Zagg products only but that is because I have a crap load of gift cards for them. I will say you need a LOT of the solution because if it isnt so wet it can slide around you will have issues. The screen is harder than the back, so yeah it will be a pain and dust is sadly inevitable. Some people say get a bathroom really steamy with a shower then apply it there because the steam grabs ahold of the dust. I have never tried it but that is because even with the seat down, sitting on a toilet to apply it seems like a pain in the... well you know :x

Originally Posted by Escadajr

Have you personally installed screens protectors on iPads? I bought the iLuv mate with 2 sheets enclosed. When I tried to install the first one, following the included instructions, the result was catastrophic. Bubbles, dust, misalignment, you name it. It seems to require fairy hands and a class 1 cleanroom into a vaccum chamber. I'm keeping the second sheet in hope of better directions on how to install this think.

Zagg recommends its liquid spray to install its protectors. What is this, water?

I ruined a couple before I learned how to apply them flawlessly ( mine go on the second the iPad is unwrapped, brand new) it's all in taking it slow and working from the center. Make sure you get all debris off the screen with a fine cloth made for picking up dust and fine hairs. Then unroll just a fraction at a time, align the cover properly onto the screen and apply credit card. It will naturally unroll itself and settle atop the screen perfectly. I buy the two pack at Walmart. One to practice with and one to apply once you get the hang of it.

I'm not sure if I like the idea of bringing my precious iPad 2 to a steam sauna... The soapy water seems more attractive however. Let's give it a try with the remaining protector. I'll let you know what happened. Thanks to you all for your help.

I alwaz do it wrong some way or the other...just get it done by a specialist!

It doesnt hurt it, I mean people use them in all climates and apple knows it.

To be honest, I use mine to play music while I am in the shower every time I take a shower so thats atleast once daily since I got it and it is still kicking lol...

The steam shower trick works pretty well if you have dust issues, are in a dry climate, or have pets. If you are using a wet application - like Zagg - use more than you think you need. If you are new to installing I would recommend getting a second set of liquid. If you mess up, you can always pull off the cover and wet it again, as a n00b - it is better to have more liquid than not. From what I read it is really a small amount of soap - such that you could probably refill the container with water and the mixture would be fine. Note the new Zagg containers aren't refillable but the older ones (iPhone 3G era) you could unscrew the top.

Secondly, practice with a smaller device before trying it with an iPad.

Originally Posted by iRuthlessPad

I alwaz do it wrong some way or the other...just get it done by a specialist!

Came to say this.

Even though my wife is quite the clean freak, our housenis still quite far away from a cleanroom and I was still able to install the cheapo screen protector I bought off Ebay without any issues. Just takes some patience. No soap water needed.

Yep,
No clean room required, however.....

Here's what I do (successful three times now no bubbles or lint/dust - can't even tell you have a protector on for the most part etc. May sound silly yet it works...

- I clean our entire granite island in the kitchen then cover it with a fairly damp large towel - near bath towel size etc. I then make sure I am the only one in the area and the AC/fans are off.

- I take my shirt off and wipe my head/hair and arms etc with a damp washcloth.

- I make sure to wipe both sides of the protector (with the damp washcloth) while it has the plastic (that you remove during instal) on it to alleviate static etc then place it on the damp towel.

- Clean iPad really well and place on damp towel - positioned for instal process.

- Perform instal per instructions - ensure perfect alignment around center button and even across the bottom of the screen - slowly remove plastic and smooth out as you pull toward the top. You must start out "right on", peeling it off some to realign will typically have poor results.
Be methodical and very precise with the first half inch of instal....

Obviously if you get some dust it is futile to try to remove it. As other have mentioned just buy the cheap protectors - two of them to get the hang of it. I've gone through four and only ruined the very first one. I attempted it without any thought and had about 50 lint/dust bubbles. A little googling brought me to the above process - tweaked only by my own imagination of where lint/dust might come from.. :-)